The church-history of Brittany from the beginning of Christianity to the Norman conquest under Roman governours, Brittish kings, the English-Saxon heptarchy, the English-Saxon (and Danish) monarchy ... : from all which is evidently demonstrated that the present Roman Catholick religion hath from the beginning, without interruption or change been professed in this our island, &c. / by R.F., S. Cressy of the Holy Order of S. Benedict.

XXIII. CHAP.* 1.1

1.2. &c. Two Charters of King Ethelbert to the Monastery of S. Peter and S. Paul in Canterbury.

1. IN the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and five King Ethelbert;* 1.2 who had express'd such munificence in the foun∣ding and endowing the Churches of S. Paul in London, and S. Andrew at Rochester, shewd more zeale in adorning and amplifying the Church and Monastery by him first erected in his own Royall Citty of Canterbury, on which he bestowd many donations, and noble Priviledges. And moreover to secure all these from the Sacrilegious invasions of his Suc∣cessours, or any other, he confirmd them with a Charter, ratifyed both with Regall and Ecclesiasticall authority. The Copy wherof we will here sett down, with the more con∣fidence because the following Monarks of our Nation beleiv'd and acknowledged it for the true Authentick Act of this King. For the two Norman Edwards,* 1.3 the first and Second in their Letters, from the first word in them calld Inspeximus, have not only men∣tiond this Donation, but express'd likewise the Tenour of it.

2. This Charter of Donation is recorded by William Thorn in his History of the foundation of the Church and Monastery of Canterbury,* 1.4 from whence we will here exscribe that which pertains to this matter: Viz. In the year of our Lords Incarnation six hundred and five, King Ethelbert confirmd in the Catholick Faith, together with his Queen Bertha, and their Son Eadbald, as likewise the most Reve∣rend Prelat Augustin and other Nobles of the land, celebrated the Solemnity of our Lords Na∣tivity at Canterbury. Where convoking a publick assembly as well of the Clergy as people, on the fifth day before the Ides of Ianuary, with the appro∣bation of all and every one of them, he by the Bles∣sed Bishop S. Augustin himself surrendred and delivered to God and the Monks there perpetually serving our Lord, the said Monastery, on which he conferrd a liberty from all burdens for ever,

moreover enriching it with many possessions and other magnificent Gifts: In the same Monastery likewise he placed a Congregation of Monks, over whom he constituted Abbot a Monk named Peter. And that these things may more mani∣festly appear to the Readers, I thought expedient to adioyn hereto the Tenour of the Charter of King Ethelbert and Saint Augustin, as fol∣loweth:

3. In the Name of our Lord Iesus Christ. Every man who lives according to Gods Law and hopes to be rewarded by him, ought chearfully and from his heart to promote pious prayers and Devotions to him, it being certain that he shall so much more easily obtain the effect of his own prayers to God, as he more willingly bestows any thing on God. Wherefore I Ethelbert King of Kent, with the consent of the Venerable Arch∣bishop Augustin and my Nobles, doe give and grant for the honour of Saint Peter a certain portion of land belonging to mee, which lyes on the East of the Citty of Canterbury: to the end that both the place where the Monastery is built, and the fore said land remain in the power and possession of the Abbot who shall be there or∣dained. Therefore I adiure, and command in the name of our Lord and Omnipotent God, who is the just Iudge of all, that the foresaid land be for ever confirmed by this Donation here subscribed, so that it may not be lawfull either for mee, or any of my Successours Kings and Princes, or any other Dignities or orders Ecclesiasticall or Civil to defraud or diminish any thing of it. But if any one shall attempt to prejudice or make voyd any thing of this our Donation, Let him for the pre∣sent be separated from the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and in the Day of Iudgement for a iust reward of his Malice and in∣iustice let him be severed from the Fellowship of Gods Saints. The said land is encompassed with these limits: On the East with the Church of S▪ Martin: on the South with the way of Burghate: On the West and North with Druting-street. Acted in the Citty of Canterbury (Dorobernia) in the six hundred and fifth year after our Lords Incarnation, and the eighth Indiction. In the End there is added the sign of the Crosse (omitted by Sir H. Spelman) in this manner, † I Ethelbert King of Kent, being in sound mind and with deliberate Counsell have confirmed this with the Sign of the Crosse made with mine own hand. I Augustin by the Grace of God Arch∣bishop in testimony of my consent have willingly subscribed. Edbald. Hamegisilus. Augemundus Referendery Hocca. Tangil. Pinca. Geddy.

4. This was the first Charter granted by King Ethelbert: to which he added a Second: The Tenour whereof likewise shall for the Antiquity of it be sett down, with a desire of the Readers pardon, who shall very seldom be interrupted or detained by such Forms: for I will content my self with delivering the substance of them, when occasion is to mention them. This Second Charter is by Sir H. Spelman inscribed, A Donation of the land of Langeport: the Form whereof followeth:

5. In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ. Be it known to all both present and to come,* 1.5 that I Ethelbert by the Grace of God King of the En∣glish Nation, having from an Idolater been made a Christian by Augustin my Father in the Gospel, have given to God by the same Prelat a certain portion of land belonging to mee lying under the Eastern wall of the Citty of Can∣terbury, namely about the place where by my said Instructour in Christ I built a Monastery to the honour of the Princes of the Apostles Peter and Paul: Which Monastery with the said land and all other things pertaining thereto I have endowed with free liberties; So that it may not be lawfull for mee, or any of my Succes∣sours, or any other Power Ecclesiasticall or Secu∣lar to usurp any thing of it, but that it remain in the free power and possession of the Abbot. If any one therefore shall attempt to diminish or make voyd any thing of this our Donation, Let him by the Authority of God, and Blessed Pope Gregory, as likewise our Apostle Augustin, and our own imprecation be separated from all Com∣munion of Holy Church, and in the Day of Iudge∣ment from all Society of Gods Elect. The sayd land is on all sides encompassed with these bounds. On the East with the Church of Saint Martin and likewise with Siblendoune (Al. be si Wen∣downe:) And so to the North be Wikengesmarke. Likewise at the East by Kingesmarke. Also at the North and East by Kingesmarke. So on the West to Rideschape. And so to the North to Dru∣tingstreete. This was done in the Citty of Canter∣bury in the six hundred and fifth year from the Incarnation of Christ, and the eighth Indiction. ✚ I Ethelbert King of the English Nation have confirmed this Donation with the sign of the Holy Crosse with mine own hand. ✚ I Augustin by the Grace of God Arch-bishop have willingly subscribed. ✚ I Eadbald Son of the King have favoured this. † I Hamegisilus Duke have com∣mended it, † I Hocca Count have consented. † I Augemund Referendary have approved it. † I Graphio Count have blessed it. † I Tangi∣silus one of the Kings Nobles have confirmed it. † I Pinca have consented. ✚ I Geddi, have cor∣roborated it.

6. Such were the Forms of these two Prime Charters conferred on this Prime Saxon Mo∣nastery founded three years before.* 1.6 And whereas Sir. H. Spelman seems to suspect the second by reason that in it Ethelbert calls him∣self King of the English Nation, whereas properly he was not so much King of the Angli, as of the Iutes and Saxons inhabiting Kent, for which reason in his first Charter he stiles himself only King of Kent: Notwithstrnding if we con∣sider that in those times among the severall Saxon Princes in Brittany, he who had, as King Etelbert at this time, an Empire over the rest, was wont to entitle himself King of the Angli, which Title also S. Gregory in his letter to him gave him, we shall not much be moved with this suspicion. So King Lucius was called King of the Brittains, though beside him there were

many other lesser Princes raigning there:* 1.7 his own peculiar Dominion being the Pro∣vince of the Iceni, containing Norfolk, Suf∣folf, &c.

9. This Monastery thus endowed and pri∣viledged remaind flourishing for the space of above nine hundred years, much enlar∣ged in the Buildings and Revenews by the piety of succeeding Princes, Nobles and Ab∣bots, and peculiarly cherish'd by Popes, as immediatly subject to them, who bestowd many more liberties and Indults upon it, extant in our Records. And though at first it had the Name from S. Peter and S. Paul, yet after the death of S. Augustin it passed into an appellation from his Name.

Notes

• * 1.1

  XXIII CH
• * 1.2

  A. D. 605.
• * 1.3

  Append. ad Apostolat. f. 56
• * 1.4

  Ibid. Tract. 1 f. 49. Spelm. f. 126.
• * 1.5

  Id. lid.
• * 1.6

  Spelman. ib.
• * 1.7

  A. D. 607.